Adjustable flexible band



Sept. 14, 1948.

N. BISSO ADJUSTABLE FLEXIBLE BAND Filed Oct. 18, 1946 Gttorneg Patented Sept. 14, 1948 ATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE FLEXIBLE BAND Nino, Bisso, New York, N. Y.

Application October 18, 1946, Serial No." 704,251

I l I The present invention relates to flexiblebands of the link type intended primarily for use as wrist watch straps or bracelets.

The primary object of the present invention is the provisionof a flexible band comprising a series of links having means in the links themselves for increasing or decreasing the length of the band to suit the wearers requirements in respect to the size of the latters wrist.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable flexible band of the link type which is of simple construction and which can be readily adjusted by the wearer either to increase or to decrease the length of the band without the use of an adjustable buckle or connector.

The above and other objects; features and advantages of the invention will be fully understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a side edge view of an adjustable flexible band embodying the present invention, the links being shown in their band-contracting positions; I

Fig. 2 is a side edge view of a portion of the band showing the links in their extended or bandexpanding relation; I

Fig. 3 is a top planview, on a greatly enlarged scale, of a few of the links of the band;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 5-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view, on a greatly enlarged scale, of two adjacent links and a companion pivot pin. I

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the adjustable flexible band It of the present invention comprises a series of links I2 disposed in end to end relation and pivotally and adjustably connected to each other in said relation as hereinafter more particularly described. As here shown, each link I2 is open at its opposite ends and overlaps the adjacent ends of the adjacent links in the band. In the specific illustrated embodiment of the invention, links I2 are hollow and taper longitudinally and are assembled so that the narrower end of one link is received within the wider end of the adjacent link. As will be readily understood, said links are preferably formed of sheet metal.

Each link I2 comprises a top wall I4, a bottom wall I6, and opposite side walls I8. A pair of laterally aligned openings. are provided in the side walls I8 of each link and a pair of longitudinal slots 22 which are in lateral alignment,

6 Claims. (CI. 59-79) are provided in side walls I8 and are disposed in longitudinally spaced relationto openings 20. A pivot pin 24 is secured in operings 20 of one link and engages the adjacent link in slots 22 of the latter for pivotally connecting the adjacent links to each other in such manner as to permit relative movement of said adjacent links longitudinally of the band. It will be noted that by reason of the engagement of the pins 24 of the links in the slots 22 of the adjacent companion links, respectively, of the band, adjacent'links have a limited relative movement in opposite directions longitudinally of the band, said movement being determined by the length of slots 22.

Interengaging means are providedon adjacent links for releasably holding them againstrelative movement in either direction longitudinally of the band. Said interengaging means comprises companion relatively movable parts on adjacent links I2, respectively, one of said parts being constituted by the companion pivot pin 24and the other of said parts being constituted by a detent member 26 which is secured within each link at the bottom I6 thereof laterally between the slots 22 in position to engage the companion part or pivot pin 24 of the adjacent link. As here shown each detent member 26 has an intermediate rounded surface portion 28 which projects slightly above the lower edges of the companion slots 22. One end 30 of the detent member 26 is secured to the bottom I6 of the link in any suitable way, as by solder, self-eyeleting, riveting, etc., while the opposite end 30 of the detent member is not secured and left free to move longitudinally of the link. Detent members are formed of spring metal and thus constitute resilient means to hold the adjacent links releasably in adjusted position. By reference to Fi i it will be understood that the detent members 26 are adapted to hold the companion pivot pins 24 releasably in position at either of the opposite ends of the companion slots 22, respectively, and it will be understood that said detents oppose or resist free relative movement of adjacent links longitudinally of the band, but allow relative longitudinal movement of the links in response to a pushing and a pullingforce exerted endwise on adjacent links for decreasing and increasing, respectively, the lengthof the band. As shown in Fig. 4, the link I2 at the right hand end of the link assemblage is positioned with respect to the adjacent, or middle link of the assemblage in the relation in which the two links are in band-increasing positions,

wh le the other two links of the assemblage are be understood that the invention may: be emin their relative positions for decreasing the length of the band. When the links i2 are moved toward each other or away from each other longitudinally of the band, for decreasing or increasing the length of the band, pins 24 snap over the rounded portions 28 of the companion resilient detent members 25. As the relative longitudinal movement of each pair of adjacent links l2,, is comparatively small, adesired small adjustment, of the ;-length of theiband is thusprovided for, while on the other hand a substantial increase or decrease in the length of the band, as the case may be, can be obtained by reason of the aggregate of the relative adjustments-eithelinks throughout the length of the band.

As described above, the links I! taper -longitudinally and it will be noted that .theyln'ot only taper in width as hereinbefore indicatedbut also taper in depth, that is, in respect to the dimension between the top l4 and the bottom l6 of the -link. *Further it will be'observed-th-at at -the--narrow-'endof' each link 12 the side walls 18 terminate-in edges 32 which are spaced somewhatfromthe innersurface of the top Wall M ofthe-adjacent link'to provide clearance between adjacent links so as to allow relative pivotal movement-of-saidadjacent links, whereby the band m ay conform readily to the curvature of the wearer's wrist. In this connection, it will-be observed'that thebottom 56 of each link terminates-shortof the adjacent end of thelink, as indicatedat 34, to permit said pivotalrnovement of adjacent links. -Further it willbe-noted that eachlink 12 maybe formed in one piece by bending-azproperlyshaped sheet metal blankinto the form of'the-link, themeeting edges of the linkforming blank being at the bottom it of the'lin-k, -asindicated-at-36in Figs; 3 and 5.

- It-Will be understood that the band IE! is preferably madeup-entirely of the links 12 which are adjustable longitudinally of the band in oppoosite directions, as described above, it being Within the scope of the present invention, however, to omitthe adjustable connection in some of the linksof thebandif -so desired. The band'may beprovided with any suitable means 'for connecting the band to a wrist watch indicated atW in -Eig; 1, when the band is used as a wrist watch band-or for connecting saidband to any other device,--for-example.- a bracelet ornament when the band is- -used' for that'purpose. 'Anysuitable releasable or' exnansible and" contractable connecting device may be prov ded on the band to enable the latter to be out on and taken off the wearer s wrist, such devices being well known and therefore indicatedonly generally at'38 in Fig. 1.

While I have shown andldescribedthe presently preferred embodiment-of -the invention. it will bodied otherwise than as herein spec fically illus- *trated or described;v and that. various changes in the :details-of construction, inthe shape of the links, and in the arrangement of the parts may 'be' made withoutdeparting from the underlying idea or principles .of the invention :within the scope -of-the appended claims.

"Having' thus describedmy invention, :what' I claim and :desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

--1."An adjustable flexible band comprising aplurality-oflinks pivotally connected to each other at;thei rad-jacent ends, respectively, by-pivot pins,.adjacent links being each'provided with a p a ir of.;lateral spaced slots in which the pivot pin between adjacent links has a limited movethe link, a pivot pin secured in said lateral openings of one of the links and engaging the com- -.-panion;iadjacent link in said slots for pivotally connecting adjacent links to each other, and means carried by said links and adjustably enageab-Ie withqr-thczpivot pins of companion links,

respectively, for releasably holding said pivot pins; respectively, at either of the opposite ends of the slots of said links, respectively.

I I3. Antadjustable fiexible :band comprising a seriesoft-links disposed in end-overlapping relation longitudinallyuofi the. band, said links be- :iing-open .atiitheirwopposite :ends and one 'end sofaeach; :link .-.projecting'- into. the a'a'dj acent end of sthe adjacent link, each :of .said links having a vpairofllateral:openings1and a pair of slots spaced :iro-m lsaidxopenings:longitudinally of the link, a pivot pinisecured in, saidilateral openings of one aofitheilinks-and:engaging the companion adjacent linkin. saidzslots forbpivotally connecting adjacent links/to :each :other, landizmeans carried: by .said dinks and adjustablysengageable with thepivot ipins aonccmpanion links, respectively, for releasably holding: said? pivot ,ipins, respectively; at eitherziofrthe opposite en.ds-;of:;the-sslots ofzsaid links; respectively.

A; lAn r adjustable: Tfiexible: band compri i iserie of links." disposed :in GndeOVBrIaPDiIIg' relation longitudinally of the band, said links being open at their opposite ends andpne end of each link-p oje ting.zinto :the adiacent: end ofv the adja en 'vlinkrzsaids-links being: relatively movable mien-posits-directions:longitudinally 0f. t bend, and interengaging means on adjacent links, respectively :for lr -leasab ylholding them, again t relativemovementinleither'qf s i ;dire tionslongitudinally of the band, said interengagingmeans .Qf-adiacenhdinks in ludin -r l vely movable companion; parts:- carried :by; adjacent links, irespectivel m one:.ofisaid companion parts also .providing means for pivotally connecting the-adja- -,cent links. toseach; other a in, said end-overlapping relation. I g

5. An adjustable flexible: band comprising a series of "links ;;disposed in end-overlapping relationdongitudinallyof the band-said links being relatively movable,- *in opposite directions longitudinally-of -.theband-anddnterengaging means on adjacent links,- respect-ively, for releasably holding-them against relative=movement in either of said directions lQngitudinallyofthe band, said interengaging means of adjacent links including :relativelyz movable ,companion parts carried by adl'acent links, respectively, one of said compan- -ion--partsa1s0 providing/means for pivotally connectin th d acent linksat veaehother in said ..e.n -,over1appin relation.

'7-5 ing them against relative "movement *in' eitherof 5 said directions longitudinally of the band, said interengaging means of adjacent links including relatively movable companion parts carried by adjacent links, respectively, one of said companion parts also providing means for pivotally connecting the adjacent links to each other in said end-overlapping relation, the other of said companion parts comprising a detent which resists free relative movement of adjacent links longitudinally of the band but which allows such movement in response to a pushing or a pulling force exerted endwise on adjacent links for decreas- 10 Number ing and increasing, respectively, the length of the band.

NINO BISSO.

REFERENCES CITED Name Date 2,417,289 Bisso et a1. Mar. 11,1947 

